Love on the Catwalk

Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2023 Laura M. Baird

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0761-7

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: CA Clauson

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To the awkward and shy in all of us, bring forth your courage and strut with confidence.

LOVE ON THE CATWALK

Romance on the Go ®

Laura M. Baird

Copyright © 2023

Chapter One

Come on, you slippery sucker. I know you’re here and I will find you.

Channeling your inner Liam Neeson, are you?

The smooth voice and throaty chuckle of Summer Richardson startled Kayli, causing her to bump her head against the table she currently huddled under. On her hands and knees. With her ass in the air.

Where’s that sinkhole when you need it?

Damn, Kayli, I’m sorry. Not exactly how I planned to say hello. Are you okay?

Yep, sure, you betcha. She tried laughing off her predicament as she backed out from her position. Only she went too far and caught her chunky heels on garments behind her, pulling over the flimsy rack holding them, spilling the clothes to the floor.

Well, crap on a cracker, Kayli said just as Summer muttered, oh, shit.

Well, fuck was more like it, Kayli thought while trying to escape from the mess as Summer lifted the rack, but she kept her potty mouth to herself. It’d already been one helluva morning getting ready for this particular fashion event where she’d be making her debut. Delayed transport with her stock barely giving her time to sort and organize. Not to mention her own failed alarm due to her scattered brain and forgetting to plug in her phone before sleep.

If one could call a restless night of tossing and turning with barely four hours of rest, sleep.

There you are, Summer said, smiling down at Kayli as she pulled away the final garment.

Here I am, Kayli said with exaggerated glee. While scrambling to her feet, her ankle rolled in the ridiculous boots she knew better than to wear but did anyways to give her height, causing her to tumble against Summer. The woman easily caught her, cradling her against her lush body as Kayli’s hands landed on her ample bosom. Kayli released a nervous laugh as she looked up and stared into Summer’s big blue eyes.

I’m sorry. I’m such a klutz. Kayli did her best to gracefully back away without further incident. But then you know all about that, she said quietly.

Nonsense. Just glad I was here to provide plenty of cushion for you. Then again, if I’d kept quiet, you wouldn’t have been startled and gotten tangled in this mess.

Both women looked at the assortment of clothes on the floor and in Summer’s hands. Clothes that were supposed to adorn models that should be arriving any moment now.

Kayli began collecting her creations, inspecting them for any flaws besides wrinkles, while Summer gathered the hangers and helped, well, rehang them.

Thank you, Kayli said.

It’s the least I could do. What were you searching for when I came in?

Oh, one of the zipper pulls wasn’t cooperating as I tried to attach it and it slipped out of my hand.

Well, let me get these hung while you find it.

You don’t have to do this. I’m sure you’d rather get ready. She snuck a glance at Summer, who’d be strutting her beautiful self in Kayli’s designs. She was greeted with Summer’s perpetually endearing smile.

Kayli, I don’t mind, since I’m responsible for what happened.

It’s not your fault. I’m the one who got tangled in the clothes.

Because I startled you. Summer took the coat out of Kayli’s hand and twirled her finger. Retrieve your lost item while I handle this. Then I’ll turn on the steamer for any wrinkles that need to be removed.

Summer, really, you don’t have—

Kayli, I got this. Summer nodded in the direction of the table. Go on.

Kayli spun and did what she should’ve done in the first place, and that’s slide the table away from the wall so she could easily move the boxes that were haphazardly piled beneath. Spotting the lost piece, she stooped down and picked it up then slid the table back in place while neatly arranging the boxes. When she turned, she found Summer watching her.

Much easier, eh? Not as nice a view as last time though. She winked before turning away.

Kayli felt her cheeks heat at the teasing comment. A trait the gorgeous model was known for.

Too bad Kayli hadn’t fully outgrown the shy and graceless traits she’d been plagued with since adolescence, causing awkward attempts at socializing or witty comebacks. Her friends, AJ and Jen, were always encouraging her as well as schooling her on snarky dialogue. But at the age of thirty-five, Kayli figured she was who she was. She sighed as she worked on attaching the ornamental pull to the coat.

"Comme ci, comme ça," she murmured to herself.

"N’importe quoi, tu es merveilleuse," Summer practically sang.

Those words had Kayli chuckling. How could she have forgotten Summer also spoke French? Thanks, but I’d hardly consider myself marvelous. Unless you mean marvelously mundane. Marvelously mediocre. Marvelously—

Magnifique, Summer whispered.

The woman’s stealth was impressive as she managed to sidle up to Kayli’s backside, causing her skin to sizzle. But in the next instant, Summer’s sugary words had Kayli ready to melt against her.

You are a delightful woman, Kayli Couture, and your creations are superb. Summer placed her hands